New Delhi, February 3
In reply to the comments sought by President on the Lokayukta report, the Delhi Government today wrote a letter demanding strict action against former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for alleged irregularities in regularising unauthorised colonies in the city.

“The letter states that strict against should be taken against Sheila Dikshit in accordance with the law,” said senior Delhi government official.

The Delhi Government had issued provisional regularisation certificates to over 1,218 unauthorised colonies before the 2008 Assembly elections and had announced regularisation of 1,639 colonies just before the poll now.

Though it is not clear when exactly did the President ask for the government’s reply on the Lokayukta’s report, it took around one month for the government to initiate action against the former Congress government. This was also the key poll plank of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).

Delhi Lokayukta Justice Manmohan Sarin had indicted Dikshit in November 2013 and ruled that she had regularised nearly 1,200 colonies for political gain before the 2008 elections and without providing basic infrastructure. Dikshit was also faulted for authorising colonies that had mushroomed on the land reserved for forests.

During the subsequent hearings, the Lokayukta also had observed that the conditions as laid down by the Supreme Court order had not been complied with at the time of the issuance of the provisional certificates prior to the election and sent the report to the President.

A complaint was also filed by BJP leader Harsh Vardhan. He had alleged that Dikshit had misused her power while issuing provisional regularisation certificates to unauthorised colonies in 2008.